The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act... commonly called "ObamaCare"... is a law that has held a lot of promise for women. It has the potential of really helping many of us and many of our "sisters" get the care we have needed.

So why have the opponents of the law been fighting to take away these important benefits and common-sense protections? There are many, many reasons why... much too many to recite in this post.

This is a video from the National Women's Law Center, and it's campaign to tell opponents of affordable women's health care that "I Will NOT Be Denied."

It may be too late for some, or even many of us. The presentation of the case against Healthcare Equality for All just finished its third of three days before the Supreme Court a few days ago... on Wednesday, March 28, 2012. I fear Healthcare Equality will be cut to shreds.

I look at the national news, and the local news here in Texas... and see so many state legislatures simply pick apart at its roots many of the protections we as women have had as far as our own personal health care is concerned.

I just found this video last night. It says what I feel in so incredibly many ways better than I ever could. If the Affordable Care Act "goes down"... please... in honor of all of our female friends and family, and all our sisters in need... please remember this on Election Day... November 6, 2012.

Janis... thank you so much. It is such a great video, and I agree that so may who are against the Affordable Care Act really have no idea what it all means. They listen to the media, and can only parrot the "slogans" that they hear that are against it.

NOTE to everyone: Please watch the entire video. I would love to hear your thoughts on it.

Jill: Usually when I write a post... if it gets Featured... that's a good thing, but if it doesn't... that's ok, too. But this post... I really hope it does get Featured. This video, and what it means, needs to be seen by as many women as possible, and by as many men who care about us, and about the women in their lives, as possible.

That is why all of the extra added exposure that being Featured will bring... is so important. So... thank you for "suggesting" it.

And yes... this IS an incredibly inspirational video. I really suggest that everyone who sees this post... watches the entire video. It is that important.

Janis... that was sweet. And... thanks so much for coming back and telling me. This video is something that needs to be seen by as many people as possible.

Just look at the national news media. How many times in the last two days have we seen the video of Zimmerman getting out of the police car in Florida. It's sensational, it excites viewers, so they show it, and show it... but something like this... we'll never see it in the media.

Karen Anne, this is terrifying that women's health and contraception is being discussed at all. I've been working with buyers in their 20s...they are blown away that time and energy is being wasted on destroying what many of us worked so hard for in OUR 20s. Most of them are just disgusted with those in Congress making it an issue. I've suggested also and thanks so much for being vigilant in finding this video.

Posted by Mona Gersky, GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate. (MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC) almost 6 years ago

Mona: You are so very welcome. Yes... it is very terrifying. There are so many targeting ObamaCare... and so many of the state legislatures seem just totally uncaring in what they are trying to do to women's healthcare. The "over-reaching" hopefully will boomerang in November. This... is deadly serious. What did you think of the video ?

In case anyone missed it at the end of the video... here is a link to the I Will Not Be Denied website.

Liz: Unfortunately, you are correct. I saw an article a few days ago that says that the level of health care in the United States ranks 29th in the world... just slightly ahead of Slovakia. And... what we as a country pay FOR that horribly deficient health care... is actually DOUBLE the cost of some of the countries above us in rank. Liz: What did you think of the video ?

The insurance companies are not about care but about MONEY Karen Anne. The health care system is a mess I agree with affordable treatment for ALL. I also see the argument from a liberty sense that the government should not force commerce on its citizens not being in the Constitution. We are not the other countries of the world. We are America. The real problem I think is coming up with a workable solution that will stick. We will see probably by June if Obama care sticks or gets thrown out in the courts.

Karen Anne - As an outsider (Canadian) I find it so profoundly confusing that affordable healthcare for all, and the freedom for women to determine THEMSELVES how they choose to proceed with their healthcare, are still in question in a country that seems to deeply care about its freedoms? Hmmm, is it possible that equality is only a concept, not a belief? Hard to believe otherwise when you watch the news and see coverage of a panel of religious leaders - none of whom are women - condemning insurer-covered contraception. Made me wonder if there are similar difficulties in insurers covering those 'little blue pills' (guys, you know the ones I'm talking about)? So, freedom for some "to mess with nature", I guess. How does that Orwell quote go again..."we're all created equal, some are just more equal than others..." (gotta love a little Animal Farm on a Friday morning). :-) Suggested!

Ms Karen- once again, thank you for bringing these to our attention. For any person in our country to go without adequate health care... to be told what they can and cannot do not for medical reasons but because of insurance reasons is unfathomable. I've suggested.

Posted by Kathy Streib, Home Stager - Palm Beach County,FL -561-914-6224 (Room Service Home Staging) almost 6 years ago

Karen,

I hit the suggest button this is so important I am so tired of these politicians telling us what do how to do it. I am also tired of the abortion issue coming up every 4 years let us move on we have more things to deal with like figuring out how deal with the deficit.

Charles... we will pay for it one way or another. Either whatever the insurance and medical costs add up to in doing a lot of preventive care... of the HUGE amounts of money that ALL of us will have to pay... when these same people go to Emergency Rooms long after their illnesses could have been prevented.

Charles... there are just so many short-sighted folks out there who have swallowed all the Kool-Aid... and do not understand the ramifications.

And... can I assume that "your" minority group that you mentioned is white males ? If so... get used to it.

As far as the 3.8% tax on the sale of "every home in America..." I am sorry, but that is NOT the case. There is no such thing in the Affordable Care Act... as you describe it.

Whoever told you this was either trying to scare you... or fool you into being against ObamaCare... or they did not know what they were talking about. Or both.

Here is a link that explains exactly what is involved... and it explains very thoroughly how and why you are wrong.

Karen, Thank you for this very important post. There is so much misinformation being spread it's quite scary. A system of attainable health care for all, based on Prevention, is the key to a healthy society and would save money. I'm sick of listening to all the lies coming out of politicians mouths. President Obama walked into a huge mess, and has been surrounded by a negative bunch of loud mouths since day one. Their goal? To get back into office at any cost. It makes me sick. ( And, I can't afford to go to the Dr). LOL. Sad, that is true for many Americans. ( Suggesting this one)

Posted by Debb Janes EcoBroker and Bernie Stea JD, REALTORS® in Clark County, WA (ViewHomes of Clark County - Nature As Neighbors) almost 6 years ago

Karen, I often wonder why the U.S.A. struggles with so many issues that the other Western Nations easily reach a concencus on. I think y'all are too argumentative.

Marte: I understand your viewpoint, but I disagree. The false argument about rationed care makes no sense to a woman or a family that is getting NO care... or that has a sick child that cannot get care.

As far as "total irresponsibility" is concerned... what is worse... a Member of Congress who votes on a 2700 page bill they have not read, or a Justice on the Supreme Court (Scalia) who jokes that he absolutely will NOT read the Affordable Health Care Act before he passes judgment on it? That is not only irresponsible... it ought to be against the law. He should be disbarred and impeached.

People should not have to die, or go bankrupt because they do not have health care insurance. Until every single person in this country can have health care... there will be no equality in this country. And... please do not give me that nonsense about socialism.

That is totally contrived... just like so many of the other supposed arguments against Universal Healthcare or like the 27 Republican State legislatures are putting into law all of their extreme measures against women. They, and those who support them, bring nothing but shame upon our country.

Debb: It all sounds so simple. And so easy to understand. there is even a quote... perhaps from Benjamin Franklin... about how "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

It is so much cheaper to take care of folks before they get sick... so they DON'T get sick, then to try and cure them afterward. There IS so much lying. Anything to get President Obama out of office. It all just makes me feel so ashamed of the way we treat those who are ill.

Malcolm: I am sure, with you being from Toronto, that all of this looks so foolish. Yes... so many other Western Nations have solved this problem easily... but not here in the good old U S of A. Canada is such a great nation. It is too bad that our system (if you want to call this "mess" a system) cannot be one of Universal Health Care as yours in Canada is. As far as argumentative... it is funny... but if we start at the very southern edge of our country... as we move northward... state by state... things get less argumentative... on the whole... the closer they get to Canada.

I was able to watch the entire 90 minute debate in the Washington State Senate when they were debating a very hot topic (which it should not be... you folks are ahead of us again on this as well.) The Marriage Equality law was being debated and voted on. No screaming, no fire and brimstone. Just debate... a vote... and then it passed. I think that took place less than fifty miles south of the Canadian border. See... your country's closeness DOES have an effect on some Americans... helping them seem both civilized and open to equality for all. I am just so embarrassed for my country. We should have Universal Healthcare... and we do not.

Thank you for bringing this video to everyone's attention. I am astounded that issues that were supposedly settled either before I was BORN or shortly after, are now in the forefront again. It is proof that a democracy or democratic republic can NOT EVER be taken for granted.

As to health care and "choices". It is amazing to me that those who are screeching wild-eyed under the banner of "freedom" for Americans to choose whether or not to buy health insurance are the first up to the plate to deny women basic choices when it comes to reproduction. That isn't flying the banner of freedom, that is chasing a theocratic agenda.

IMHO * this is a scare tactic of The Left....As a 60+ year old woman with several family members in the medical profession, having health care was a CHOICE I made early on and I planned my budget accordingly.

I've never smoked, drink moderately and have never had an abortion - those were choices also

Wallace: There should be no reason whatsoever that everyone in America should not have available to them the benefits of healthcare. Universal Healthcare is a right, not a privilege. And supporting access to that right should be a part of one's humanity.

You "planned" your budget ? What happens to those who do not HAVE a "budget?" There are way too many women who have not had the "choice" to open or not open certain doors in their lives. It's hard to open a door... when you are staring at a blank wall. Not everyone has had the advantages that you have... regardless of what you may think.

Ruthmarie: You are very welcome. It is so critical that women of all stripes realize that we DO have the power to claim the right of choice over what happens to our own bodies... and the bodies of our children, and of those whom we hold dear.

I think one of the most distressing things going on in this country today... is the attitude that those with conservative beliefs can and should turn those beliefs into LAW... and then force that behaviour on everyone. This is not a Theocracy... regardless of what religious extremists like Rick Santorum think. He is free to believe whatever he wants... but NOT free to force those beliefs on me.

There are some who for some reason or other have found themselves in a life-situation where they have not HAD to make critical choices. Good for them. BUT... there are so many others who have not had those choices... for NO reason of their own. The lack of compassion shown by so many Americans just makes me wonder how they can sleep at night.

Why are women not United on this issue? It seems to me that Women's Healthcare should be a priority for our government. When it comes to women's issues I speak to those closest to me...my mother, my sisters andmy fiance. I can always depend on them. They are not looking for free...they want fairness, and they do not want to be gouged.

Posted by C. Lloyd McKenzie, Living Albuquerque over 5 years ago

So far I have not been real impressed with the new Obamacare. Praying for our Nation.